Principal Wants to Improve Transition From Middle to High School

With a goal of having middle school students transition better to Framingham High, new principal Adam Goldberg has begun meeting with Framingham’s grade 8 students. (Goldberg is in his first year as Framingham High principal.)

Goldberg already met with Walsh eighth graders this week. He will meet with grade 8 students at the Christa McAuliffe Charter School on Nov. 6, Fuller Middle on Nov. 13, and Cameron Middle on Nov. 20.

During the meetings, Goldberg will talk about habits, behaviors and skills needed to make a successful transition to high school. The focus is not on grades, as much as the effort by a student in and out of the classroom, he explained.

Goldberg said a bad transition between middle and high school can affect self-esteem and lead to increased stress and anxiety. When students are dealing with those issues, grades suffer.

The goal is for each student to reach their potential, while having a smooth transition to Framingham High, he said.

“We want them to do well in the classroom, but also be involved in all the high school has to offer,” said Goldberg.

These grade level meetings at the middle school are a new concept to the Framingham public school district, and have not been done before.

Research indicates the transition between middle and high can cause disengagement and a decline in grades and attendance, if students are not prepared.

Goldberg also will host an eighth grade parent night on Nov. 13 at 6:30 at Framingham High. It will be a time for parents to hear the message Goldberg gave the middle school students, and also a time for parents to ask questions about the high school and the transition. Goldberg said he wants to dispel myths and rumors about the transition process, at that meeting too.

Studies show when parents are involved in students’ transition, they tend to stay involved longer in their child’s high school
experience, students achieve more, and are better adjusted.

Another change in the transition process Goldberg is exploring is having a day when all grade 8 students can visit the high school for a tour.

Presently, every grade 8 students at the three Framingham Public middle schools, plus the Christ McAuliffe public charter school, takes a field trip to Keefe Technical Regional Vocational High School in Framingham.

Goldberg said he would like to be able to have students visit his school, too.

In February, teachers will be making recommendations for students on courses at the high school.

Goldberg, who has a background as a guidance counselor, said he wanted to talk to students now to explain to them that “while grades are important. They need not to focus just on being a good student but on being a greater human being.”

Goldberg said he will tell students - and parents - students need to consider carefully what courses they should take.

“Just because a student is recommended for all honors courses, doesn’t mean a student should take all honors,” said Goldberg.

For example, a student could take honors American history but choose not to take Honors European history. Or a student could take Honors Biology and Chemistry but choose not to take Honors Physics.

“And a students is not forever stuck on a track,” said Goldberg.

If a student is not recommended for a Honors class, they could take a honors class, but “the student has to be on board” and willing to do the ”extra work,” said Goldberg. It “can not just be the parents’ choice.”

During the Walsh meeting, Goldberg said students had no questions; so he took the opportunity to discuss teens and social media, and the need to be aware of your own “digital footprint.”

Social media, specifically Twitter, was the focus of a presentation by Goldberg at a high school PTO meeting. The principal Tweets but does not have a Facebook page.